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HiP EVENTS SHOW 021

s2e7

june 7 - 13

 

In this show we stop to reflect on life and friends, both living and those that have passed away

Over the last few weeks i have experience as series of ups and down and the loss of loved ones that i am still dealing with.

 

A few weeks back i had a week day off and called a friend whom i intended to meet for lunch some time now. His name is carl. I spoke of him on the Charity Tourist Podcast, as he participated in the ride for tots the marine corp toys for tots program. So we met for lunch in Hawaii Kai at the Kona Brewing company. There we chatted. He is an experience and successful business owner and fan of the Ohio State buckeyes so we had a lot to talk about. I was seeking advise on business and input for moving forward.

1st We talked about my 4 Buckeyes comic strip and side project, told him about a few obstacles in finishing the book. He encouraged me to do a pre-order sale of my 4 Buckeyes Book “The Story of OHIO” reassuring me that its better to try and fail than having not tried at all. Well I plan on doing just that and i will alert you to it when i do.

 

2rd we discussed the show you are listening to now. Hawaii Posts. He made some suggestions about how to target my audience better and gave a few suggestions that would switch up a few things on the show. For instance he suggested that i focus on the events and put the weather and surf at the tail end.   Shoots I guess i will give it a try.

 

Now Carl is headed into open heart surgery this week and i ask that we keep Carl in our thoughts and prays as he recovers. Good Luck Carl…God Bless you with a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

 

Life is not a Rehearsal.  That’s on the Marque outside a theater pictured on The Verve’s Single by the same name. Life is not a Rehearsal. for real. I remind my son of that all the time to embrace life, prepare for tomorrow but live for today. Tell the people you love that you love them. 

 

The Friday after lunch with carl i got a text from my friend David, i went to preschool - college with him and swam on the same team for years with his brother Frank and Doug. Well Davids father passed away. He was a accomplished obstetrician. Think of how many people he helped to bring into this world.  He was always pool side at swim meets.

Sunday I got another text message from another friend Kenny. He informed me that his father had font be with the lord. His father was a Good kind hearted man who was active as a coach on soccer teams or an adult leader in the scouts. I Let Kenny know as i did with David that i was there for them if they wanted to call and talk. Being in Hawaii and them 3000 miles from here on the mainland i knew i couldn’t be there for either of them in there time of need.

 

Monday Morning I am driving a client to the airport when my friend Todd here on the islands sent a text that simply said “Steve Passed Away Man”

I dropped off and replied No … Aw man

Todd replied “yeah for real like wtf”

 

Steve Kanemori passed away. 47 years old. It was hard for me to process.  Steve is a local braddah who was larger than life, a friend, a business partner, God father to my Children and Uncle to many many kids.

 

I moved out here to by encouragement by a good friend, Josh who moved here after leaving Ohio State. He said to me on the phone, “if you wanna surf and make surf films this is the place to be.” referring to Hawaii. When i moved out here I had $400 cash a near maxed credit card, my bike camera equipment and a duffle bag. Thinking was going to market my brand “Trippin Everywear” by shooting movies with surfer skaters and mountain bikers wearing my brand.  Big Dreams small budget, I was broke in a week. I quickly got a videographer job at the wedding emporium where i met Steve and Todd. That was 21 years ago. During that time i lived in Kuliouou Valley with Josh and friends and coincidently that was the valley Steve grew up in so we hung out there and also in kaimuki as i eventually moved closer to work. But then I moved to the North Shore making surf films, Steve stayed in Waikiki and killed it in the wedding video business. He was the best. A mast shot, good with customers and totally dedicated to providing the best possible wedding video. He would shoot 2 maybe 4 in a day and edit most before the next day. In 2004 i moved to Waikiki and set up an office with Steve. He did weddings and Corporate video and i plugged away at sports and adventure videos. When Steve Jobs introduced the Video iPod in 2005 and asked for Video Podcasters. Steve and I came up with the name Hawaii Surf Session Report. He believed in all of my hare-brained ideas and knew how to rib me about my over zealous ambition.After about 7 years together making videos separately and together we eventually closed offices.

 

We stayed in touch and started meeting at the salt flats in Maunalua bay, its a parking lot for boats and trailers and cars and whatnot. We called it the docks…. there really were no docks…. but there is a boat ramp. Anyhow. 

 

Almost 3 nights a week for the last 10 years we would meet at the docks with Todd, Trevor, Jay, Brian, Shawn M, Shawn P and family and friends and old friends and we welcomed new friends as they traveled through the islands.  W drank beer talk story laugh, rant, encourage, play clash and the kids like Jimmy and Crimson would run around chasing crabs on the beach, light saber wars or gamed the night away under the stars. Steve was alway there. At the dock or even at times of need Steve was there for you. He would be a good uncle to Crim and Jim and talk to them about acting up at home or school and say “boy you better get good grades “ Eventually my youngest Tommy, got to go to the docks. He would give uncle Steve a high five and a big hug when we left . He thought coming out to the docks and seeing tod and uncle Steve was really special.

 

Jimmy Really loved uncle Steve. First fist bump and local handshake always went to uncle Steve. Jimmy would sit in his lap and as he got bigger uncle Steve would joke that he’s gonna have to settle for the fist bump. But Jimmy always gave him a big hug before we parted ways. As we would drive down the Kalani Steve and Jimmy would exchange shakers through the car windows. It was a big thing. He was a big friend and meant so much to so many people. And now he is gone. That fast. here one day gone the next.

 

The last night i saw him we talked about this podcast and my book and the chauffeur job. He was going to be working with me as a chauffeur.  we were stoked to be working together again. Even though he still encouraged me to pursue my creative interest. I excitedly told him about an email i got from a website that does travel reviews and they listened to the show and contacted me offering content. I told him i started clearing out my storage unit and found all of my cd from the Surf Session report days, explaining i have rights to all of that music and now i can play that music on the Hawaii Posts. Started dreaming of bringing back Surf Session report for version 2020. Even remarked on how much i wish we could get an office space together…. like the old days.

 

He said “ I never really saw you happier than when you were in the office after coming back from shooting surf and still had to edit but your were happy and stoked you were following your dream and it was working, you gotta believe in yourself. You gotta focus on one thing. You can do it.” I remember saying “ Shoots brother Steve you always believe in me”

 

The night of his passing all of his friends gathered at the docks to celebrate his life. As tradition in Hawaii memorials are made with all sorts of flowers and candles. So we lit some candles opened a beer for Steve. The kids made a R.I.P Steve K with white coral on the sand lot. Todd changed it to R.I.L. as in rest in love, 11 days later the memorial still stand at the docks. His mother will spread his ashes there and We plan on placing a plaque and a coconut tree in honor of braddah Steve.

 

Years ago i made a 3 part series called Fieldtripp Hawaii and Steve was my partner and camera guy. In the episode you will catch a